ČRo | Czech Republic abstains in the final vote on the migration pact

The Migration Pact heads to its final vote in the Council of Ministers. The Czech Republic will abstain in this final vote. What is the process of approval within the European Union? What led to the change of position? And what are the implications for the EU of the just-approved migration pact? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for Czech Radio.

"Partial changes have occurred after negotiations with MEPs, it happens and it is common. For example, some deadlines have been shortened. But that is how it works, compromises are made. The question is always whether the compromise is acceptable or not. The Ministry of the Interior has assessed this by abstaining from the vote. From my point of view, however, the most important Czech requirements were preserved. In particular, the possibility to choose the form of assistance and not to be forced under any circumstances to relocate asylum seekers if the Czech Republic does not wish to do so."

You can lsiten to the whole interview here.

Viktor Daněk
Deputy Director

Before entering the NGO sphere, Viktor Daněk worked for almost ten years as a journalist. During his time with the public service Czech radio, he focused mainly on covering EU affairs. He spent almost five years as a permanent correspondent in Brussels, where he cooperated with other media outlets. Before his career in journalism, he gained experience in the area of marketing and communication in the Česká spořitelna banking group and at the Czech Technical University in Prague. He holds university degrees in Media Studies and International Relations. Viktor Daněk joined the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy in October 2023. He continues to be active in the media as a freelancer. His main areas of interest are institutional questions of European integration, globalisation and the EU’s climate and migration policy.